Get Out to compete as a comedy at Golden Globes

Get Out is looking to rope in Hollywood Foreign Press Association voters for the Golden Globes’ comedy/musical categories.

EW has confirmed with Universal, the film’s distributor, that the Jordan Peele-directed horror-satire will compete as a comedy at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards, where awards pundits had already pegged it a likely contender regardless of its placement. A source close to the Globes says Blumhouse, which produced the film, entered it for consideration as a comedy.

The move probably allows Get Out more wiggle room when it comes to landing an above-the-line nomination for its key player, star Daniel Kaluuya, who will now likely square off against potential comedy/musical foes like Hugh Jackman (The Greatest Showman), Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick), James Franco (The Disaster Artist), Matt Damon (Downsizing), and Steve Carell (Battle of the Sexes).

As for other films that could put up a fight against Get Out in the Globes’ comedy/musical race, The Big Sick, I, Tonya, The Disaster Artist, Lady Bird, and The Greatest Showman could all be potential contenders. The film seems less likely to make a dent in the supporting races, but Peele could surprise with a Globe nomination for directing if the film generates enough heat with the easily impressionable HFPA.

Though genre films like The Exorcist, Gravity, and The Lord of the Rings films have a spotty track record with major awards bodies — especially the Oscars — the Golden Globes’ smaller voting base (it’s roughly 90 journalists) and dual category tracks (comedy/musical and drama) for films and lead performances means a wider selection of titles will be a part of the conversation, with studios often blurring the lines between genres (remember when Ridley Scott’s space-themed drama The Martian competed as a comedy?) in the hopes of bagging a few more nominations for their respective ponies in the race.

Released to theaters in February after a strong showing at Sundance the previous month, Get Out succeeded with audiences as a runaway box office hit, grossing a massive $33.4 million across its opening weekend en route to a $253.4 million worldwide haul on a miniscule $4.5 million budget. Its financial strides have only helped its cause in the race for awards attention, and, after the Academy invited a record 774 new faces to join its ranks this summer, several invitees told EW the film was high on their list of best picture choices at this early stage of the game.

Nominations for the 75th Golden Globe Awards will be announced Monday, Dec. 11, with the awards telecast to follow on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC.